Spring button fastener



June 10, 11941.

A. E. JYDSTRUP SPRING BUTTON EASTENER Filed Marh 7,.1940

AZZornegs Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED TES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to button fasteners and more particularly to fasteners for easily detach able buttons.

Small identification buttons or badges are used in numerous instances by members of labor organizations .to identify their union afiiliation and in many instances by clerks, elevator operators, red caps, etc., to identify them by name or number, and these buttons or badges must be frequently changed from one uniform to another when the uniforms are changed for laundering or cleaning. The usual type of button for this purpose is one which includes a dome shaped body with a pin attached thereto. Usually the pin bears against a ridge or collar on the back of the button body so that it will not become accidentally displaced and removal and attachment of these pin secured buttons frequently results in tearing of the coat or uniform material to which it is secured. When the material is torn it is necessary to patch it in some manner and that portion of the fabric where the pin is frequently attached and detached soon becomes unsightly and detracts from the looks of the entire garment.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for removably securing buttons of this type wherein the fabric to which the button is secured will not become torn and the appearance of the garment will be preserved.

Another object of the invention is to provide button securing means which can be quickly and easily applied to conventional button structures at a comparatively low cost.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved button attaching means which can be substituted for the customary pin device associated with such buttons.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the.

following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view through a button with an embodiment of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with a portion of the button broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through a modified form of button attaching device.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a button body 4 which is conventionally curved as shown and which at its edge is provided with a flange 5. Placed over the button body is a layer 6 of paper or Celluloid upon which is adapted to be printed the identifying words or numerals desired. The outer layer 6 is bent over the flange 5 on the body of the button and a ring I which is generally of rectangular cross section is pressed into the rear of the button to frictionally secure "the edge of the paper or Celluloid layer 6 between said ring and the flange 5. In the ordinary button structure a pin element comprising a partially circular spring wire and a straight pin portion is secured in the button by inserting the partially circular wire portion beneath the flange of the inserted ring 1. In carrying out my invention, however, this pin unit is eliminated.

I provide a bowed strip of spring metal 8 which is adapted .to be sprung behind the ring I or an inwardly turned flange on the body 4 if desired, the strip being inserted by pressing one end behind a portion of ring I and then bending the strip slightly so that the other end can be inserted behind an oppositely disposed portion of the ring. When the strip is released it will lie in firm engagement with oppositely disposed portions of ring 1 and it requires a reasonably strong pull to dislodge the strip from. the button. Extending rearwardly or downwardly through the center of the spring metal strip 8 is a bolt 9 one end of which is headed and the other end of which is pointed as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A small fiat nut I0 is threaded upon bolt 9 to rigidly secure the bolt to the spring metal strip 8 and to lock said bolt against turning movement. A rounded and pivotally knurled nut II is also threaded upon the bolt 9, and this nut is easily removable so that the pointed bolt can be pressed through a piece of fabric and when nut II is threaded on the bolt it will grip the fabric between said nut l l and the fiat nut Ill. The piercing of fabrics with a small bolt or screw element having a pointed end does not tear the fabric but merely separates its threads so that when it is removed no damage has been done.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a strip of spring metal l2 similar to the strip 8 in Figs. 1 and 2, and through this strip is passed a bolt l3 which is headed at one end and pointed at another as the bolt or screw 9 in Figs. 1 and 2. The bolt I3 is retained not by a flat nut as the nut Ill but an internally and externally threaded sleeve 14 which is threaded over bolt I3 and brought down tightly against the metal strip I2. The external threads on the sleeve l4 are adapted to receive a relatively large knurled nut I5 similar to the nut H in the above described embodiment.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simply constructed button attaching device which can be quickly applied to a conventional type of identification button in place of the usual pin securing device and it will also be seen that the button can be attion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a button fastener and the like, a button body having oppositely disposed catch portions, a substantially straight resilient element removably secured between said catch portions, and a single, substantially straight securing post secured to said element for attaching the element and button body to a support..

2. The structure in claim 1 and said removably secured element constituting a strip of relatively stiff flexible material.

3. The combination with a button body having an inwardly disposed rear flange portion having a relatively large central aperture therein, of a resilient element detachably secured between spaced portions of said flange portion, and means on said resilient element for securing it and said button body to a support.

4. A button fastener for use with a button body having inwardly disposed flange portions, a flexible strip of greater length than the distance between said flange portions and capable of flexing for insertion between said flange portions, support engaging means extending outwardly from an intermediate point on said strip substantially at right-angles to said strip, and said support engaging means being detachably securable to a supporting medium.

5. A button fastener for use with a button body having inwardly disposed flange portions, a flexible strip of greater length than the distance between said flange portions and capable of flexing for insertion between said flange portions, and support engaging means extending outwardly from an intermediate point on said strip, said support engaging means comprising a headed bolt extending through said strip, a relatively flat lock nut rigidly securing said bolt to said strip, and a readily detachable nut threadedly engageable with said bolt.

6. A button fastener for use with a button body having inwardly disposed flange portions, a flexible strip of greater length than the distance between said flange portions and capable of flexing for insertion between said flange portions, and support engaging means extending outwardly from an intermediate point on said strip, said support engaging means comprising a headed bolt extending through said strip, an internally and externally threaded. sleeve on said bolt rigidly clamping the bolt to said strip, and a threadedly detachable nut threaded upon th external threads of said sleeve.

ALBERT E. JYDSTRUP. 

